His blood had begun heating up as he looked at the back of this person.
Though Vincent was unable to see her face, he could feel a certain connection with her. Or rather… similarity with himself.
"I know… why you brought him here."
The tall female spoke. Her voice was calm, but it was detached from emotions.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your stay, Immortal of the Red Forest, Lythaera," Vaelorion spoke after he straightened up and looked at the same back as Vincent.
He can't help but take a deep breath.
Vincent can almost tell for sure by now that there was some history between those two. A sad one at that.
'Immortal of the Red Forest? I understand. She must be… the one who bonded with the Sacred Red Maple and who's ultimately protecting this forest.'
At this moment, as Vincent contemplated, the female gradually turned around.
When Vincent's eyes landed on hers, his mind turned blank for a moment as he unconsciously took a step back.
This female High Elf didn't do anything, yet just looking into her glowing beautiful green-blue eyes, he felt such fear like never before.
His soul was shaking uncontrollably.
'Such… immense difference in power…'
Vincent hastily closed his eyes.
His inner alarm tells him, screaming to him to run away as fast as possible.
But this was just a desperate delusion.
He could feel it. If this woman wanted, his life would end at any moment as long as he is within this forest. Her forest.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his disrupted emotional state, but it wasn't easy.
The woman's expression was blank. Her eyes slowly landed on Vaelorion.
They briefly stayed on him before moving towards Vincent.
Though she wasn't doing anything, he felt as if his every secret was exposed.
"Please, come closer…" she slowly spoke and extended her hand towards him.
Vincent calmed himself and took a step forward while inhaling a fragrant scent of flowers
He raised his hand towards her and the woman gently took it.
"..." the silence filled the room.
After around half a minute, the woman slowly let go of his hand.
Her glowing green-blue eyes gazed deeply at Vincent.
'Is this a main trait that distinguishes High Elves from other elves?' he wondered.
"Your blood… Bizarre."
"Definitely not a Royal… nor a High Elf, and yet… you're."
The woman wasn't able to give a concrete answer.
Then the woman suddenly decided to shift towards another matter.
"Vaelorion's estimation was… correct."
"You have only barely… 12 months left until your cracked seed claims your life."
She deeply looked at Vincent's calm expression.
"You had already… accepted it."
Vincent suddenly bowed down, "Is there still a hope to restore it in some way?"
"Even if you restore it… your essence seed will never be the same."
Vincent's body trembled.
He gritted his teeth and gripped his fist, but didn't answer her statement.
His silence was the reply.
The woman calmly looked at his denial of reality.
"In your situation, the best way is… to just abandon the seed, willingly shattering it before it breaks by itself."
"This way, though the damage will still be immense, you… will at least have a chance to survive."
"..." Vincent was still silent.
The woman could clearly see that this young man had already made up his mind.
Her expression was serene.
"Do you truly wish to try what you planned?"
Her sudden question surprised Vincent slightly.
"I know very well about the dangers, but they don't matter to me. I will… not betray my path, regardless of what price needs to be paid."
"If death is what is waiting for me at the end, so be it."
The woman calmly looked at him for a moment before turning towards the window.
"Even if your death… will affect those that care about you?"
Vincent hesitated to answer, but still honestly replied, "Absolutely."
"Time is the best cure. They will go through a period of grief, yes, but eventually they move on as life doesn't stand still."
"I will simply become a distant memory which will also be gradually forgotten."
The woman spoke as she looked at the calm lake, a calm breeze brushing through her long hair, "And you… fine with this outcome?"
"No," Vincent's abrupt reply slightly baffled the woman, "but this is what must be done. If I wish to control my life, I must have enough power to back it up."
"Until then…" an image of a peacefully snoring blond-haired girl appeared in his mind as he took a slow, deep breath, "Everything else… can wait."
If Vincent wants to be with Alisia, he has to succeed in making his own path.
He can't be beside her and become a liability to her as she continues to progress further while he continues stagnating from his perspective.
Though she might have a different opinion on this, he wants to stay by each other's side as equals.
Vincent does not want to be under her protection.
But if he fails…
Well, it wouldn't matter anymore.
"I… understand," the woman slowly replied and then added after turning around, "Come closer…"
Vincent didn't hesitate and took a step forward.
The woman lifted her hand and touched Vincent's forehead with her finger.
Shivers ran through his body, but he didn't move.
"I mean no… harm," she said.
The next moment, Vincent's eyes turned blank and he collapsed on the floor with a *thud*.
"..." Vaelorion was not surprised.
He bent down and lifted unconscious Vincent and moved towards the door.
But before leaving the house, he stopped.
It looked as if he wanted to turn around and say something, but the next moment he took a step further, leaving the house and stepping onto the boat.
This woman… was no longer his wife.
…
Several hours later.
Vincent had a very pleasant dream. It was his childhood. He was with Alisia, collecting mushrooms and he was losing.
My love..
Vincent's eyes slightly shook when he started hearing someone's voice.
Vincent…
The voice became louder and clearer.
Vincent's eyelids moved and his eyes slowly opened up from the dream.
"My love!"
Above him he saw the face of a silver-haired woman who stared at him.